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About This Episode

It’s rugby’s time in the spotlight. On this episode of Playing with Science, hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly discover more about the physics and grit of rugby alongside Todd Clever, former USA Rugby captain and the Eagles most capped player and Trevor Lipscombe, Director of the Catholic University of America Press and author of The Physics of Rugby. To start things off, we learn the rugby basics from Todd, and Gary and Chuck take us through a history of the sport. You’ll hear why rugby is described as “elegant violence.” Trevor explains why fewer injuries happen in rugby than in American football, even though rugby players don’t wear pads and helmets. We also learn more about the “all skills, all players” philosophy in rugby and how each player plays offense and defense. Trevor gives us the science behind some classic rugby terms: the scrum, the lineout, and the spin pass. You’ll also hear how Todd taught himself to pass with both hands. Lastly, Todd shares his enthusiasm about the growing rugby culture in the United States and Trevor ponders what the future of rugby will look like on an international scale. Are you ready to play yet?